Name: 【聽Podcast學英文】如何成為一位好公民？ (What makes a good citizen? ⏲️ 6 Minute English)
Uploaded: 2025-10-19T21:01:30.000Z
Duration: 6 min 14 s

Georgie, what do you think makes a good citizen?

Georgie，你覺得什麼樣的人才算是好公民？

I think a good citizen is someone who doesn't break the law and is generally kind to other people.

我覺得好公民就是不觸犯法律，而且對別人普遍友善的人。

But also maybe people who volunteer, so people who run clubs for children and that kind of thing,

不過，也許還有那些當志工的人，像是經營兒童社團之類的人，

Now, being a citizen, a member of society who enjoys certain rights in return for having certain responsibilities

其實，身為一個公民，也就是社會的一份子，在享有某些權利的同時，也必須承擔某些責任，

is an old idea that's been in the news a lot recently.

這個概念其實由來已久，而且最近新聞上常常看到。

It's something that interests Myra Inubi, presenter of BBC World Service programme People Fixing the World.

這是BBC世界臺節目「People Fixing the World」的主持人 Myra Inubi 很感興趣的一個主題。

你覺得什麼樣的人才算是好公民呢？

Is it someone who follows the laws of the land and pays their taxes?

是那種遵守國家法律、繳稅的人嗎？

Well, some people might say it should go beyond that.

嗯，有些人可能會覺得，好公民的定義應該不僅止於此。

And a good citizen is one who tries to improve the place where they live.

而且一個好公民，是會努力改善自己居住地方的人。

A good citizen obeys the law of the land, a term for the set of rules and laws that exists in a country.

好公民就是遵守國家法律的人，國家法律指的是一個國家存在的規則和法律體系。

But should there be more to it than that?

Around the world, young people today are less likely to vote.

放眼全世界，現在的年輕人越來越不常投票了。

And many people aged 18 to 30 say they feel ignored by politicians.

而且很多18到30歲的年輕人表示，他們覺得政治人物根本不重視他們。

So in this program, we'll be hearing about MyPolis,

所以我們這個節目，將會介紹一個叫做 MyPolis 的計畫，

an exciting project helping young people in Portugal re-engage with their citizenship.

這個計畫正在幫助葡萄牙的年輕人重新參與公民事務。

And as usual, we'll be learning some useful new words and phrases,

而且一如往常，我們會學到一些實用的新單字和片語，

all of which you'll find on our website, bbclearningenglish.com.

這些都可以在我們的網站 bbclearningenglish.com 上找到。

But before that, I have a question for you, Neil.

不過在那之前，Neil，我有一個問題想問你。

The project's name, MyPolis, comes from the ancient Greek states such as Athens and Sparta,

這個計畫的名字 MyPolis，來自於古希臘的城邦，像是雅典和斯巴達，

這些地方孕育了公民權的概念。

So what is the meaning of the ancient Greek word polis?

所以古希臘的 polis 這個字是什麼意思呢？

是 A) 投票，B) 人民，還是 C) 城市？

Ok, well, I'll reveal the correct answer later in the program.

好的，我會在節目稍後揭曉正確答案。

MyPolis runs council assemblies where children can propose improvements to their local school community,

MyPolis 會舉辦議會，讓孩子們可以為他們當地的學校社群提出改善建議，

anything from fixing broken water fountains to changing the curriculum.

從修理壞掉的飲水機到改變課程內容。

listening to the children's ideas and responding by giving their support or explaining why not.

聽取孩子們的想法，並透過給予支持或解釋原因來回應。

The project was started by founder Bernardo Gonsalves when he was in his 20s

這個計畫是由創辦人 Bernardo Gonsalves 在他二十幾歲時創立的，

because he was disappointed by interactions between political parties and young people.

因為他對政黨與年輕人之間的互動感到失望。

Here's Bernardo telling more to BBC World Service programme People Fixing the World.

這是 Bernardo 在 BBC世界臺節目 People Fixing the World 中告訴我們的更多內容。

We have seen a quick erosion in the trust of the population on democratic institutions,

我們看到民眾對國家議會等民主機構，

such as the national parliament, such as the government in office.

以及現任政府的信任快速流失。

We need to find new ways to connect children and young citizens to democratic institutions.

我們需要找到新的方法，將孩子和年輕公民與民主機構連結起來。

Otherwise, the gap will get bigger and bigger.

Bernardo thinks Portugal has seen an erosion of trust,

Bernardo 認為葡萄牙出現了信任流失，

a term for the gradual weakening of people's confidence in political and economic institutions,

這個詞指的是人們對政治和經濟機構

以及現任政府的信心逐漸減弱。

A government in office means the government in power at the present time.

現任政府指的是目前掌權的政府。

MyPolis mirrors the political activities that children will need as adult citizens,

MyPolis 模擬了孩子們未來成為成人公民時所需的政治活動，

things like voting and holding politicians accountable.

像是投票和要求政治人物負責。

Reporter Alison Roberts visited schools around the Portuguese capital Lisbon,

記者 Alison Roberts 走訪了葡萄牙首都里斯本周圍的學校，

as she explains here to Myra Enubi, presenter of BBC World Services, People Fixing the World.

並在此向 BBC世界臺 People Fixing the World 節目主持人 Myra Enubi 解釋。

Another benefit is MyPolis has designed the program so it can be included as part of the national curriculum,

另一個好處是 MyPolis 設計的節目，可以納入國家課程的一部分，

Well, it's good to know that this is happening in other places.

嗯，很高興知道其他地方也有這樣的事情在發生。

But the thing that also really strikes me here is that politicians are actually listening to these kids,

但這裡真正讓我印象深刻的是，政治人物其實有在聽這些孩子說話，

and taking them seriously, giving them answers.

並且認真看待他們，給予他們回應。

Because politicians, as we know, can be hard to pin down.

因為我們知道，政治人物有時候很難捉摸。

The MyPolis program is designed as part of the whole school curriculum and not just an add-on,

MyPolis 節目是整個學校課程的一部分，而不是額外添加的，

meaning something extra that is added later instead of being planned in from the start.

意思是它從一開始就規劃進去，而不是之後才加上去的。

Myra was impressed that local politicians take the school children seriously.

Myra 對於當地政治人物認真看待學童感到印象深刻。

If you take someone or something seriously, you think it's important and deserves attention.

如果你認真看待某人或某事，就表示你認為它很重要，值得關注。

And that's good, because as everyone knows, politicians can be hard to pin down.

這很好，因為大家都知道，政治人物有時候很難捉摸。

To pin someone down means to force them to explain their plans and intentions in detail.

「pin someone down」的意思是強迫他們詳細解釋他們的計畫和意圖。

It sounds like the program is really developing active citizens of the future in Portugal.

聽起來這個節目真的在培養葡萄牙未來的活躍公民。

In fact, it's been so successful that similar programs have been started in Italy, Hungary and Mozambique.

事實上，它非常成功，義大利、匈牙利和莫三比克也開始了類似的計畫。

Okay, Neil, I think I should reveal the answer to my question.

好的，Neil，我想我應該揭曉我問題的答案了。

I asked you, what is the meaning of the ancient Greek word polis?

我問你，古希臘單字 polis 的意思是？

And you said people, which was the wrong answer, I'm afraid.

你說的是人民，很可惜，那是錯誤的答案。

It's time to recap the vocabulary we've learned, starting with the law of the land,

是時候複習我們學過的單字了，首先是國家法律，

a term for the set of rules and laws that exists in a country.

這是指一個國家存在的規章和法律體系。

An erosion of trust happens when people gradually lose confidence in political and economic institutions.

信任的侵蝕發生在人們逐漸對政治和經濟機構失去信心的時候。

If a government is in office, it means they are currently in power.

如果一個政府在職，表示他們目前掌權。

An add-on is an extra part that is added to something later rather than being built in from the start.

附加是之後才加到某樣東西上的額外部分，而不是一開始就內建的。

If you take someone seriously, you consider them important and worthy of your attention.

如果你認真看待某人，表示你認為他們很重要，值得你關注。

And finally, if you find it hard to pin someone down, it's difficult to find out their specific plans and intentions.

最後，如果你覺得很難「pin someone down」，意思就是很難搞清楚他們具體的計畫和意圖。

But remember, you'll find a quiz and worksheet for this episode over on our website, bbclearningenglish.com.

但請記得，你可以在我們的網站 bbclearningenglish.com 上找到這個節目的測驗和練習題。